Guided QuestionWhen it comes to spiritual experiences and gifts, are you allowing Scripture—not personal experience, emotion, or cultural expectations—to determine what you believe and how you practice your faith?SummaryThis episode concludes a series on the ministry of the Holy Spirit by focusing on the controversial gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. Dr. Robert Lewis begins by acknowledging the strong emotions and differing experiences surrounding tongues, but emphasizes that experience can never be the final authority for the church; Scripture must be the final court of appeal.He reviews several biblical observations about tongues: the gift is presented as a supernatural ability to speak unknown human languages, it primarily functions publicly as a sign to unbelievers, it is directed toward God, and it is not a gift given to every believer.Lewis then explains why tongues may have held such prominence among the Corinthians. Their culture had a long history of mystery religions and ecstatic speech, creating a natural association between ecstatic experiences and spiritual depth. Paul therefore had to help the Corinthians separate their cultural understanding of spirituality from the proper biblical use of the gift.Turning to 1 Corinthians 14, Lewis highlights Paul's emphasis on edification, clarity, interpretation, and order. Prophecy is presented as the greater gift because it communicates clearly to the church and builds up believers. Tongues, when used publicly, require interpretation so that the entire church can understand and be edified. Without interpretation, the speaker should remain silent in the gathered church.The episode then follows the historical record of tongues from the New Testament through church history and into the Pentecostal and charismatic movements of the twentieth century. Lewis observes that tongues became far less prominent after the apostolic period, while also cautioning that history alone cannot establish theological conclusions. Scripture, rather than historical patterns, must determine whether God can still give the gift.Finally, Lewis addresses how Fellowship Bible Church should respond to tongues today. He argues that the church should neither automatically reject the gift nor naively accept every claim of tongues as genuine. Because ecstatic speech can be counterfeited or psychologically induced, spiritual experiences must be tested against Scripture. Any public use of tongues should demonstrate the characteristics Scripture requires, including genuine supernatural ability and interpretation.The episode closes with three priorities for church leadership: remain faithful to God's Word, protect the flock, and promote individual spiritual maturity.OutlineWhy Tongues Are ControversialConflicting experiences and opinionsScripture as the final authorityThe Biblical Gift of TonguesSupernatural human languagesA sign to unbelieversDirected toward GodNot given to every believerThe Corinthian ContextInfluence of pagan mystery religionsEcstatic speech and perceived spiritualityPaul's correction of cultural assumptions1 Corinthians 14: Proper UseProphecy prioritizes edificationClarity over unintelligible speechInterpretation requiredOrder in corporate worshipTongues Through Church HistoryEarly New Testament manifestationsDecline after the apostolic periodHistorical outbreaksPentecostal and charismatic movementsEvaluating Tongues TodayScripture does not explicitly say the gift has permanently ceasedEcstatic speech can be counterfeitedGifts must be testedFellowship Bible Church's ApproachNeither forbid nor blindly accept tonguesRequire biblical testing and interpretationProtect the church and promote maturityKey TakeawaysScripture is the final authority. Spiritual experiences, emotions, and personal testimony must be evaluated by God's Word rather than treated as proof of truth.Tongues are not a universal gift. Paul explicitly